Just a week ago, Google removed 49 Chrome extensions imitating MEW, Ledger, Trezor, and other popular cryptocurrency wallets. Phishing attempts are on the rise, and in this stressful time, it’s also easy to make an irreversible mistake losing your crypto whether you’re new to crypto or an experienced hodler.

Whether you're moving funds to pay rent or panic buying BTC and ETH to hedge the markets, the last thing you need during a financial crisis is to lose your crypto. Since 2017, our support team has talked to thousands of crypto holders.

Here are some of the most common ways crypto is lost or stolen and how you can avoid it.

With crypto freedom, comes crypto responsibility.

When you own crypto—you become your own bank. While this is empowering because you have complete control and sole anonymous access to your assets, it’s also a heavy responsibility because, if you lose your crypto, there’s no way to recover your funds. You might be asking yourself,

If a hacker gets my funds, why can’t you just get my crypto back?

Blockchain is maintained in a decentralized fashion so that each user has complete control and sole anonymous access to their assets. There is no way to reverse or refund transactions, nor can MEW, or any wallet you might use, trace the IP address of a phisher or determine ownership of any wallet address.

So what does this mean for you? It means you need to be careful any time you access or move your funds. Do it when you can concentrate, and avoid doing it during an emotional or stressful time like this Reddit user who lost their XRP to a Chrome phishing extension that asked for her hardware wallet seed phrase.

99% of the mistakes that will lose your funds are preventable with “good hygiene”. Just like the safety steps we’re all taking for COVID-19, you can protect yourself from the biggest mistakes and scams in crypto. Nearly all cases of lost crypto that we've seen through hundreds of support interactions could have been prevented through more awareness of good security practices.Here’s what you need to know to avoid these pitfalls.

#1: Never share your private key.

Giving a hacker access to your private key is like turning over all your banking information to a criminal, except it’s irreversible, harder to trace back, and doesn’t come with FDIC insurance. Though you would never knowingly hand over personal data, never ever give your private key, mnemonic phrase (also known as recovery or seed phrase), or Keystore files.

This means don’t enter them directly into a website or give them to a fake ‘support’ representative via messages, emails, and phone calls. Where there is money, there will always be people looking to steal it, and crypto is no exception. The support teams at reputable crypto companies will never ask you for your key, even while helping you resolve issues.

#2: Be wary of Chrome Extensions, Plugins, Giveaways, and “helpers” offering to help you swap other coins to ETH or BTC.

These types of hacks have been on the rise since the economic uncertainty around COVID began. Additional traps to look out for: Giveaways that sound too good to be true, often on Twitter. Any statement like “send us ETH and get double ETH back” or the “give us your private key to get free tokens dropped to your address” is targeted at newcomers, don’t fall for it.

Additionally, watch out for scammers in your DMs on sites like Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram. Common scams include impersonating a famous crypto personality to get your private information or offering to help you unload tokens into Bitcoin.

There is no way to reverse or refund transactions if you make a mistake. So be super careful, even send a really small test amount first if you’re nervous because once it’s gone, it’s gone. This is an easy mistake to make, as each Ethereum address is 42 characters long and just one wrong letter results in a completely different wallet.

Bottom line: Take your time being very careful with address entry, use a trusted QR code, or assign a blockchain domain name like .crypto or .eth to your wallet to avoid panic sends to the wrong address.

#4: Use a hardware wallet as well.

While mobile and browser-based wallets offer convenience and in MEW’s case, access to DApps, DeFi lending, and the Ethereum ecosystem, hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor are a great option for larger amounts and long-term storage.

New smartphone-based secure enclave wallets keep your information secure within the smartphone's local storage function similarly to a hardware wallet.

Pandemic or not, phishing tactics are rampant and constantly evolving. While it’s hard to keep track of all the different ways hackers are out there trying to steal your funds, your vigilance and knowledge on key safety and security will keep you safer out there.

Huawei’s 5G-based HiCar technology is not just another auto infotainment system. It’s more like an interface to the car’s core operating system and a vehicle-to-X channel to the road. HiCar will first appear on the BYD Han EV in June, before arriving in models from about 30 different auto brands.

Analysts view 5G adoption in cars (and roads) as the ultra-fast communications backbone to autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and the internet of things. It also provides in-vehicle features such as controlling windows, locks, AC, and streaming media.

BYD, China’s largest EV maker, will use Huawei’s Hi Car technology in its upgraded Han flagship electric sedan starting in June. The Han EV expected to have a starting price of about $40,000 — similar to the cost of a Tesla Model 3 in China. It shares some of the same styling as well.

But that’s just the beginning of the rollout of Huawei’s 5G into vehicles. Huawei has signed up about 18 different automakers to use HiCar. The company has been working with Audi. BYD also has a big tie-up with Toyota to make EVs. China and Japan are also collaborating on next-gen DC fast-charging standards.

The Han EV is equipped with BYD’s latest lithium iron phosphate batteries in multiple pack sizes, providing up to about 375 miles of range (in the NEDC test cycle). It travels to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. The BYD Han is available in single-motor and dual-motor configurations. The Han flagship model is also available as a plug-in hybrid.

Among battery makers in China, BYD was ranked second with 10.76 GWh capacity, behind battery giant CATL. The company claims that its blade-shaped design increases space utilization by more than 50% compared to other pack layouts — and that it’s safer than competing designs.

A conspiracy theorist could have a field day with Huawei’s incursion into cars. Huawei Technologies is the world’s largest telecommunications equipment supplier. (The Trump administration added the company to the US blacklist in its trade war with China.)

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China has deployed nearly 200,000 5G base stations across the country. About 500,000 5G base stations are expected to be deployed nationwide by the end of this year. Installing hundreds of thousands of connected EV charging stations is part of the same Internet of Cars initiative.

Huawei has not expressed interest in making cars, but instead in becoming the central 5G communication systems for automobiles and the built environment. This could pave the way for ubiquitous smart autonomous driving systems.

In January, Huawei signed up with Dutch Sat Nav provider TomTom to pull away from Google systems.

Huawei is known to have developed extensive AI systems for autonomy and cloud-based communications, and integrating those systems into an automotive ecosystem. APIs can link camera data to core vehicle systems, including steering, as well as driver-monitoring systems. The robotaxi fleet from autonomous driving startup AutoX recently started operations in Shanghai, where the roads come equipped with C-V2X systems.

Warren Buffett’s wealth, on the other hand, now stands at $67.3 billion. He is currently the world’s fifth-richest billionaire.

Zuckerberg’s net worth has only been slightly affected by the coronavirus pandemic compared to Warren Buffett. | Source: Bloomberg

With a drop to the fifth position, Buffett will attract more ire from critics who are growing weary of his value-investing strategy.

How Mark Zuckerberg Beat Warren Buffett

There’s nothing to be learned from Mark Zuckerberg’s rise to the position of the world’s third-richest person. All he did was not lose more than Warren Buffett!

In less than five months, Buffett’s wealth has fallen by $22 billion, while Zuckerberg’s value has only declined by a tiny fraction of that amount. At the start of the year, Buffet was worth $89.3 billion, while Zuckerberg was worth $78.4 billion.

The difference is due to the nature of the businesses the two billionaires are in as the coronavirus crisis unfolded.

So far, Facebook’s business has barely been affected by the pandemic, managing to record increased usage and revenue.

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A), on the other hand, owns or owned significant stakes in businesses that have suffered from the coronavirus-induced demand shock. This includes oil and airline stocks. The investing conglomerate is also heavily exposed to financial stocks, which have also taken a beating as interest rates fall.

Q1 2020: Facebook Vs. Berkshire Hathaway

Compared to the first quarter of 2019, revenues went up around 18%, while net income more than doubled. Usage grew over 10% across various categories.

Consequently, Facebook’s stock has remained mostly unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic and has lost less than a percentage point since the start of the year.

Berkshire Hathaway, on the other hand, has fared poorly since COVID-19 hit. In the first quarter, the investing conglomerate reported an unrealized loss of $50 billion. This was mainly due to a fall in equity values in its portfolio.

Year-to-date Berkshire Hathaway stock has lost 25% of its value.

Since the start of the year, BRK.A has plummeted by 25%. | Source: TradingView

More Fodder For Skeptics Of Value-Investing Strategies

The rise of Mark Zuckerberg and the fall of Warren Buffett comes at a time when the Oracle of Omaha is facing scrutiny over his investing style.

This “outdated view,” reasoned Merkel, had caused Buffett to continue hoarding cash even as bargains popped up as a result of the pandemic-induced stock market selloff.

Merkel said:

I sold half of my holdings in Berkshire recently, after I learned that Buffett did nothing during the recent fall in the stock market. Market values are relative, and there were certainly decent values to be realized in late March. You wouldn’t blow the whole wad, but surely you should have bought something.

Currently, Berkshire Hathaway’s cash reserves are approximately $137 billion. So while Mark Zuckerberg has the bragging rights, for now, Warren Buffett’s “dry powder” of nearly $140 billion raises the possibility of him improving his rankings in the billionaires’ list in the future.

realme Pakistan has unveiled the latest “realme 6i” the new member of realme 6 series quad-camera family in an online launch event. realme is known for its vibrant and trendsetting smartphones designed especially for the younger audience upon the trifecta of strong performance, build quality and affordable pricing. The young brand’s latest offering promises outstanding performance in a young and stylish manner and can be true allies for the users in a real sense. Renowned for their power and style, competing for pricing, realme phones are known for their flagship imaging experiences that cater to the growing and dynamic needs of the youth.

The Launch event live on realme’s Facebook page features live unboxing by KOL from the tech industry, a Post Launch Media Meet-up via Zoom was also conducted to interact with media & address queries, the attendees from the media & tech industry praised the idea of live meet-up following the social distancing.

realme 6i smartphone will be available in Pakistan on sale by April 29, 2020. This quad-camera device holds the distinction of being the world’s first smartphone to feature the MediaTek Helio G80, a 12 nm gaming-focused chipset meant for the mid-range market. The octa-core CPU has a main frequency, up to 2.0GHz, offering 35% better single-core performance and 17% better multi-core performance than the previous generation. All of these combine to an Antutu Benchmark result of 201,278.

“The realme 6i will stand out among others in its price segment as it features the latest performance and trendy design. The realme 6i also offers gamers an enjoyable gaming experience as well as beautiful pictures with its 48MP AI Quad Camera for photography lovers,” says realme Pakistan brand manager Ahsan Chohan.

Where the realme 6i wins out, though, is in battery capacity. The device sports a massive 5,000mAh battery, much more than the realme 6’s 4,300mAh pack. It also supports 18W quick charge. The phone makers claim that the realme 6i can last 39 days with the screen turned off, and 40.07 hours with the screen on based on their tests.

realme 6i adopts classic design from Naoto Fukasawa, maintains a masterpiece design style. It has adopted the rare spray coating process, and the phone has been polished hundreds of times. As a result, the back of the phone shows an advanced matte visual effect, with a delicate and comfortable finish. realme 6i comes in two young colors – Green Tea and White Milk at PKR 31,999. The first sale starts on 29 April 2020.

SadaPay has announced that it has been granted the in-principle approval by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. This approval allows SadaPay to ready its operations for the pilot phase, during which the digital wallet will be available on a limited scale, under supervision of the regulator.

The startup is founded by American serial entrepreneur Brandon Timinsky, who ventured to Pakistan after his last startup in the US was acquired. Over the last year, Timinsky has assembled a team of banking veterans, liaised with the regulatory authorities, and built the foundation for a “digital first” financial institution in Pakistan. Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former Finance Secretary, has joined SadaPay as Chairman of the Board.

Pakistan is now the 5th most populous country in the world, with over 76 million 3G/4G subscribers and nearly 1 million new Smartphones users coming online every month. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, internet adoption is only accelerating and more people turn to digital solutions for everyday payments. This presents a tremendous opportunity for SadaPay not only in Pakistan, but also a number of other regional markets that the team hopes to expand to.

“Sada” translates to “simple” in both Urdu and Arabic. SadaPay’s mission is to do away with the cost and complexities of traditional banking through their simplified digital-first experience. SadaPay offers a smartphone-based digital wallet accompanied by a free Mastercard debit card.

As soon as a SadaPay account is activated, a virtual debit card is provisioned for immediate use. Also, users can perform free and instant transfers to any bank in Pakistan, and withdraw cash from all of the 14,500+ domestic ATMs with no fees (3x per month). Furthermore, users can also load their account with cash at any of 30,000+ retail locations across the country.

Speaking about the news on the approval, Brandon stated:

It’s really amazing to see how committed the State Bank of Pakistan is to adapting to changes in consumer behavior and advances in technology. In the last few months alone, we’ve witnessed tremendous progress by SBP with the release of a number of new regulations that are certain to make an incredible impact on Pakistan’s economy by catalyzing the digitization of its financial system.

We’re also very grateful for the support we’ve received from the Bank of Punjab and Mastercard, which will certainly spur our journey towards rapidly expanding financial inclusion in the country

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Waqar said:

The role the Central Bank is playing in laying the foundations of a broad-based and user friendly digital payment system in Pakistan is laudable. These efforts have gained momentum since last July. Pakistan would soon be a leading country in digitizing its payment system and SadaPay would play a prominent role to achieve this goal.

Early access to SadaPay will be available for those who have signed up for the waitlist through the website;www.sadapay.pk. SadaPay also has a very feedback-centric approach to their product development roadmap, and they’re also welcoming suggestions via email, hello@sadapay.pk.

Over 78,000 farmers have been registered since 8th April through the Bardana Mobile App, developed by Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) under the umbrella of “Digitization of Food Department”.

This was informed in a progress review meeting chaired by Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor. Director-General ITOps Faisal Yousuf and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.

Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor said that PITB has successfully launched Bardana Wheat Procurement, Flour Ledger Management Information System and Inventory Management System. These systems are playing a pivotal role in “Wheat Procurement Drive 2020” and monitoring the stock positions and wheat delivery mechanisms across Punjab, he added.

The meeting was informed that under this module, over 389 Food Centres have been registered and over 631,000 tons of total Bardana have been issued in Punjab this year.

The wheat procured from farmers is recorded through PITB powered Wheat Procurement app and Web Portal. For the first time Payment Scroll is introduced, through which payment against the wheat procured is calculated and its access has also been provided to the banks and concerned centers to facilitate in calculating and making payments to the wheat sellers.

Air University, in order to eradicate the confines of quarantined minds of youth through promoting ‘e-Edutainment’, has announced to organize Pakistan’s first-ever and the biggest e-Olympiad “Air e-Nexus’20”. According to a press statement issued on Saturday, a total of 61 online events will be held, under the guidance and support of Air University Directorate of Student Affairs, from the 19th to 23rd of April, 2020.

Air e-Nexus’20 will also explore new horizons of opportunities under the concepts that emerged from the CoVID-19 crisis, namely work from home and remote learning through the effective use of online digital tools, including e-LMS. In this regard, Air University further announced to donate all proceeds from the event to the Government’s COVID-19 relief efforts.

“We wish to return the spark that the youth of Pakistan think they have lost in their lives because of COVID-19,” the statement said. The prominent events of the olympiad comprise e-competitions among university students ranging from writing challenges to engineering designs, quizzes, donation drives, designing public service messages through videography, photography, animation and various other skill-based competitions.

“The objective of this whole extravaganza is to encourage students to promote the use of technology in education and revive the Nexus to e-Nexus, as an innovative initiative, for making some valuable contribution to the knowledge economy in the digital age,” the statement further emphasized, adding that the primary motive behind transforming annual Air Nexus event to e-Nexus is promoting a digital platform to help achieve the concept of digital Pakistan.

“Air University has and always will be leading from the front in support of new ideas and advancements in regard to such unprecedented ventures. Air e-Nexus’20 aims to prove itself one of the pivotal stepping stones through which the youth can bring a stark change in the minds and hearts of people, for the future of a dynamic and technologically advanced Pakistan,” added the statement.

The OnePlus 8 Pro arrived only a few days ago and has started appearing in reviews and unboxing videos straight away. The teardown video from JerryRigEverything has revealed that the handset is just as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside.

Slicing the adhesive around the back panel and prying it open reveals perhaps one of the best looking phone internals of 2020. The guts of the phone have a matte black finish and a giant wireless charging cable on top that looks like a golden vinyl record.

Compared to the Galaxy S20, the OnePlus 8 Pro has a much larger wireless charging cable and that is because it features 30W wireless charging as opposed to the S20’s 18W.

Removing the charging coil flap reveals even more internals with an all-black finish and a large camera module just as big as the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The “non-removable battery” conveniently has a removal flap on the side that should make battery replacements easy unlike some other recent phones.

Overall, the phone is a little harder to get into which probably has to do with the IP68 water resistance rating and we recommend watching the full video for more details.